Rangers’ free fall continues in scoring-filled 7-4 loss to Flyers

The dejected look on Henrik Lundqvist's face after recent games seemed to have been saying everything. Until Sunday afternoon, after yet another loss and another crooked number scored by the opponent, when he expressed what his current state of mind was.

"It's terrible," Lundqvist said. "Absolutely terrible."

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If there is a nadir for Lundqvist and the Rangers, this would appear to be it, though things always seem to get worse. The latest loss read 7-4 Sunday against the Flyers at the Garden, exactly 50 years after the Rangers hosted Philadelphia in their first-ever game at the current and fourth version of MSG.

The Rangers (27-28-5) have dropped four straight and 14 of their last 19, all 14 losses coming in regulation. And as shambolic as they've been defensively — or "dumb," as Mats Zuccarello put it — right now Lundqvist is having a rough go.

Sunday marked the fourth time in his career he allowed at least seven goals in a game, doing so on 37 shots. He allowed seven goals on 27 shots on Jan. 17, 2017 vs. Dallas; eight goals on 34 shots on Dec. 12, 2008 at New Jersey; and eight goals on 24 shots on Dec. 16, 2006 at Toronto.

Over his last 11 appearances, Lundqvist has a 4.46 goals-against average, .873 save percentage and has been pulled four times. The soon-to-be 36-year-old started every game of the Rangers' recent stretch of five games in eight days, leads NHL goaltenders with 52 appearances and has started 50 of the Rangers' 60 games. Backup Ondrej Pavelec is out with an MCL sprain, and Alexandar Georgiev missed a projected start Saturday with the flu.

"I have to be better," said Lundqvist, who was far and away the biggest reason the Rangers improved in November and December. "Obviously, there are a lot of mistakes. We're getting deflections in our own net, they're getting deflections in our net, odd-man rushes — that's where we are getting hurt right now. I just have to start with myself, somehow find energy and confidence to play your game. But it's hard when you give up so many goals to stay confident and make that extra save even to be solid."

The Rangers fought back throughout the first period, but the Flyers pulled away late. (Kathy Willens/AP)

There's no telling how much worse it can get as the Rangers surely will look different a week from Monday when the trade deadline passes. Any positive stretch of play is undone by the same crushing mistakes.

"You live for this," Lundqvist said. "It means so much to all of us that when you don't win, when you don't get the result — we just have to work really hard to get that feeling that you need in the room to play your best. It's not a good feeling right now."